From the pages of Wallpaper magazine, to art-filled boutique hotels like Ian Schrager’s new Grammery Park, to Tom Ford’s new shop on Madison Avenue furnished with artworks from his personal collection, these days it simply won’t do to have a home void of art.

Yet for the new homeowner, selecting and hanging art can be a daunting task. As with fashion, trends come and go, what’s in one year is out the next. And as with fashion, many of the old rules no longer apply.

Artist Julian Schnabel’s interior design for the Grammercy Park Hotel, New York City. Image: nytimes.com

To help you navigate the waters, we’ve provided some tips on what to consider when you’re starting out. We also address some concerns you may have about adding art to your home. It’s easier than you think!

First, you will need to assess your space. Is it classic or modern? Large or small? How high are the ceilings? Are the furnishings large and boxy or fine and delicate? Is the room light-filled or cozy and dark? What kind of natural lighting have you got?

Next, assess your personal style. Do you prefer cutting-edge contemporary art? Colourful paintings? Prints? Photography? If so, what do you like images of? Do you like folk art? Do you buy art on your travels? In short, what are your interests?

Traditional Mexican ceremonial dance masks. Image: irisartes.com

If you already own the art, then great. If not, you might want to begin by visiting some galleries. See below for a list of some of Toronto’s best. They will be able to advise on framing, mounting and protecting your art from humidity, dust and sunlight.

Once you have a feel for the space and the type of work that you like, think about balancing rather than matching. Large walls can benefit from more dramatic pieces, while small spaces can handle more delicate artworks in tighter groupings, like prints or watercolours in slim frames. Black and white photography can look crisp and masculine, while mid-size oil paintings in gilt frames tend toward a classic look. And remember, dark artwork in a dark space will be, well, dark. And vice versa.

Country Rock by Peter Doig (after a scene familiar to anyone who has driven up Toronto’s Don Valley Parkway).
Image: contemporary-magazine.com

Finally, don’t be too precious with art – it only makes your interior seem untouchable. Yes, you should frame your children’s drawings and have them hanging in your living room, just be sure that they stand up – visually – to your other masterpieces. (You’ll find that lot of children’s art does.)

A painting of fireworks by a child. Image: show.me.uk

Having art in your home is all about creating a space in which you feel comfortable and that reflects who you are. Any individual touches, no matter how ‘improper’, will make your environment unique to you, and, after all, that’s what good style is.

SOME EXCELLENT TORONTO GALLERIES:

Photography:
Stephen Bulger Gallery – please click HERE
Jane Corkin Gallery – please click HERE
Monte Clark Gallery – please click HERE

Painting:
Odon Wagner Contemporary – please click HERE
Gallery Moos – please click HERE
Angell Gallery – please click HERE
Nicholas Metivier Gallery – please click HERE

Cutting-edge contemporary:
Jessica Bradley Art Projects – please click HERE
Diaz Contemporary – please click HERE
Susan Hobbs Gallery – please click HERE
Birch Libralato Gallery – please click HERE

Prints/multiples:
Art Metropole – please click HERE
Elizabeth Legge Fine Antique Prints – please click HERE
Stuart Jackson Gallery (Japanese prints) – please click HERE

This article first appeared in the Fall 2007 Toronto issue of Royal LePage e-newsletter by Kathleen Slater.